Minimum formal conditions

What are the requirements for inventors nominated for the European Inventor Award?

Any inventor of any nationality who has at least one European patent can be nominated. Inventors with a European nationality are eligible for the Industry, SMEs, Research and Lifetime Achievement categories, even if they are currently living outside Europe. Other nationals can only be nominated for the Non-European Countries category.

What are the five European Inventor Award categories?

The European Inventor Award is presented in five categories:

Industry: The Industry Award is presented in recognition of inventors of outstanding and commercially successful technologies patented by large European companies. These are companies that have more than 250 employees and an annual turnover of more than EUR 50 million.

SMEs: This Award is presented to the people behind inventions at small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are companies that had fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover of less than EUR 50 million when the patent was granted. Ideally, the invention will have been a commercial success and helped the SME to expand its business.

Research: This Award honours inventors working at universities or research institutions. Inventions presented in this category will often have led to major technological progress and enhanced the reputation of the inventor's institution.

Non-European Countries: This category is open to all inventors who are not European nationals, regardless of the size or turnover of the company applying their patented invention. However, the invention or related products must be available and enjoy considerable commercial success in Europe.

Lifetime Achievement: This category honours the long-term contribution of an individual European inventor whose dedication and tireless efforts – and patented landmark inventions – have had a major impact on his/her field of technology and society at large.